Day five Part 4.

The silence in the car was deafening. Meredith turned the radio to an oldies station and cleared her throat.

"So, um, you used to look different?" she asked, cringing at her limp attempt to break the silence. To her surprise, Eve C responded with nonchalant equanimity.

"Yeah, I think," Eve replied. " I don't remember very well."

Another awkward beat passed before Eve C spoke again.

"I forgive you, you know. To be honest, I really don't care what you and Jay did together."

Meredith's cheeks flushed. "Thank you, but I doubt you'll feel the same way after we reverse this."

"Right," Eve said.

"We will reverse this," Meredith said firmly. "We have to."

"It's not so bad," Eve replied softly. "It's nice, being Eve. I was so unhappy when I was Jenny."

Meredith braked sharply as they came to a stoplight. She turned to face Eve, her newly green eyes wet.

"That's Eve talking." She almost kept her voice from quivering with fear. "I'm not gonna just give up and let this happen. If that bitch wants my life she's gonna have to take it by ****."

Eve didn't point out that she was mostly the bitch Meredith was describing. She felt an overwhelming empathy. "Of course," she said quietly and put a hand on Meredith's knee.

Meredith stared at it curiously for a second before she scowled. "Don't fucking touch me."

"Of course," Eve repeated sympathetically, quickly removing her hand. "I want to help you figure this out. What's the plan?"

Meredith stared angrily at the road ahead of her for a moment. Suddenly she pounded her fist against the steering wheel hard enough to startle Eve.

"Fuck!" she shouted. "I don't fucking know."

Eve was alarmed to see tears in Meredith's eyes. She spoke reassuringly. "Hey, hey. It's alright, Mere. We're gonna figure this out. Now, let's talk about our options. Obviously, we're not going to the hospital."

"Of course not," Meredith snapped. "Don't be stupid. What else?"

Eve chuckled a little. Even this angry, Meredith was kind of endearing. "It's funny, we think that's a symptom of the virus."

"What is?"

"You know, the whole 'we can't go to the hospital' thing," Eve said with air quotes. "We realized that the virus is making us think that."

Meredith groaned with frustration. "It's not the virus! It's just a terrible idea!"

"Why?" Eve asked pleasantly.

"Because... you know, because it's a bad idea!" Meredith said. "It just... it wouldn't... hang on. I mean, if this was happening in a movie, I'd be yelling at the characters to go to the hospital... fuck! It is the virus! Oh God, it's already changing me!"

Eve put a hand on her back and rubbed soothingly. Meredith was too upset to notice. The light turned green but she didn't release the brake.

"I can't- I, we have to call them! Call the ambulance people! The hospital, we have to go to the fucking hospital!" The car behind them laid on the horn, but she kept going. "We. have. to. go. to. the. hospital. We have to. Right?"

"I can't think of a reason not to," Eve said. "So let's just go."

Meredith's knuckles were white on the wheel. She released brake and accelerated. A line of sweat broke out across her brow and Eve thought she could actually hear her teeth grinding.

The next few minutes passed in silence as Meredith fought the growing dread and panic in her. Finally, Eve spoke softly.

"I think that's the same building we passed twice already." She turned to Meredith, who was red-faced and short of breath. "You don't remember how to get there, do you?"

Meredith pulled onto the shoulder. As soon as the car was in park, she exhausted rapidly and let go of the wheel. Panting, she waited to Eve.

"We can't go to the hospital!"